Alumni Profiles

Phil Browne '96G, a science teacher at Concord High School in New Hampshire, wants his students to believe—as he does—that science can make the world a better place. But the 1986 Challenger accident, in which fellow teacher Christa McAuliffe died, left many of his students pessimistic and angry at NASA and—by association—opposed, or at least indifferent, to science.

In search of ideas and assistance, Browne sent some 300 letters to representatives, senators and others in high public office. He received one reply, a call from Barry Rock of UNH's Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space (EOS), who wanted to discuss with him ways to engage young people in the field of science. "What I learned shortly after the Challenger accident was that while manned space expeditions are interesting, they're not something most students can get involved in," Browne explains. "It would be more exciting to get students involved in actually collecting data. And I found a way through EOS, in my own backyard."

Concord High School teacher Phil Brown '96G helped start the Forest Watch program.

Rock, a professor of natural resources who was studying the effects of acid rain on the state's spruce trees, suggested a study of white pines, which are plentiful in New England and strong indicators of ozone pollution. If young students could be taught how to collect data from the trees in their area, they could provide vital information about pollution levels. These discussions led Rock to create the university's Forest Watch program, and to enlist Browne as one of the first teachers in the program.

In 1988-89, Rock trained teachers at Concord High School and seven other New Hampshire schools, and they in turn trained their students in simple procedures to measure and record the height and width of the white pine trees, as well as the color and size of their needles. The schools began collecting data, which is sent to UNH each year, where it is analyzed and used to monitor New England's air quality and the health of its forests. Today, the Forest Watch program has spread to more than 100 schools in the region, with hundreds of students, from elementary to high school, taking part in the research.

In recognition of Browne's ongoing work with Forest Watch and the innovative science curriculum that he has helped to develop at Concord High School, he was named the state's recipient of the National Science Foundation's 1999 Presidential Award for high school teaching.